Consumer Survivor Initiatives

Donation amount

DURHAM MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES believes that individuals with lived experience of mental illness can vitally contribute to the recovery process for people who are experiencing mental health problems.

The client/peer support relationship can promote resilience and help buffer stressors or adversity. Clients benefit from the empathy and encouragement that a person who has lived their struggles can offer. It is support “by peers for peers” – a positive, inspiring, and equal relationship that promotes health, self-acceptance, and progress towards recovery.

DHMS Consumer Survivor Initiatives can offer:

Assistance setting recovery goals

Life-skills training and coaching

Psycho-educational programming

Social networking and support

Linkage to services

Our Peer Support Specialists also work in the community to raise awareness of mental illness and stigma, provide education, and coordinate Peer Support programming with other organizations. In this capacity, DMHS is the lead agency in the Consumer Survivor Initiative Network for the Central East LHIN.

DMHS Consumer Survivor Initiatives also offers:

Education

System coordination

Peer Support program development

DMHS is a proud sponsor of the consumer advocacy group V.A.S.E. – Voices Against Stigma Everywhere. For more information about V.A.S.E. speaking opportunities, please call Aubrey Andrus at 289-989-0400 ext. 3228.